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Dental Cleanings

Routine dental checkups are vital to good oral hygiene and are the best way to detect problems at their earliest stages. Early detection and treatment saves unnecessary discomfort, time and money. Checkups are typically recommended twice a year. Oral hygiene needs change with age and the condition of your teeth and gums. Based on your situation, we may recommend a checkup schedule that is more frequent than twice a year.
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Your dental checkup includes:

• A visual exam of your mouth, face, jaw and neck
• Digital diagnostics
• A gingival pocket exam
• Professional cleaning of your teeth
• Comprehensive data capture in an electronic dental record

The American Dental Association's website contains some great tips on brushing. 

Digital X-Rays

Digital X-rays detect dental problems that cannot be found during a visual exam. We use Digital X-rays that provide instant results and emit 50 percent less radiation than traditional x-rays. 

Gingival Pocket Exam

Healthy teeth require healthy gums. A gingival pocket exam determines the presence or risk of gum (periodontal) disease.
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What to Know:

• Each tooth sits inside a gingival pocket of gum tissue. Food debris and plaque naturally collect inside this pocket.
• Daily tooth brushing and flossing remove food debris and plaque from the gingival pocket. If not removed, harmful bacteria penetrate the gumline and deepen the pocket.
• As the depth of a gingival pocket increases, so does the risk of tooth damage and infection that leads to gum disease.
• During your exam, a hand-held instrument is gently placed between gums and teeth (sulcus) to measure the depth of each pocket.
• In its earliest stage, gum disease may be reversible. Since it rarely has symptoms of pain, it is possible to have gum disease and not know it.

Visual Examination

During a visual exam, we will examine all surface areas inside your mouth. We look not only for cracked and decayed teeth, but also for growths and sores on the roof and floor of your mouth, tongue, lips, gums, and the mucous membranes that line your cheeks and gums. 

Professional Cleaning

Your teeth are cleaned using special instruments to remove plaque from above and below the gumline. Afterwards, your teeth are polished, which makes your teeth look and feel great. It also smoothes tooth surfaces so plaque is less likely to accumulate.

​For more information on dental dental hygiene and cleanings, please contact us.